Keeping a cleaner wrasse
 

i keep finding two sets of info on them one is there easy to keep provided with the correct amount of food live brine etc,the other is unless you have a large system with a large number of fish they will perish after a few months,does anyone have anything to add ?

They are excellent jumpers. I tried one and found it on the carpet a few days later. That might not be exactly what you are looking for but that's all the info and experience that I have.

that kind of info was helpfull i have eggcrate for a cover so jumping out might be a problem,thanks sam

From the information I have gathered they seem to be good for a short while but soon deteriorate without the proper environment, ie, very large with lots of rocks and fish.

The worst thing about keeping these fish is the fact that they are so beneficial to life in the ocean and are constantly harvested for the aquarium trade. I feel a little twinge of remorse each time I buy something that should be in the open water, but draw the line with cleaner wrasse.

I believe there is an issue with their relatively slow reproduction as well, but maybe someone can clarify or discount that for me. On the other hand cleaner shrimp multiply easily, do just as fine a job (perhaps better) and acclimate well to aquarium life.

Great post CptCleverer.

neon gobies also act as cleaners and they are bred in captivity(i think)

Correct Marie, that they are. :cool:

Agreed.

An aquarist in London, Ontario, {Rayjay}, has had good success with them. One should read the info on feeding, etc. on his website.

However, this is not a common experience with them. Most end up dead from starvation, jumping, etc. Its the general concencous they should be left in the wild.

A neon gobie sounds like a better idea if i cant keep a cleaner wrasse for its total lifespan then its better off in the ocean,the problem with the gobie and the shrimp i think both would make a nice snack for the eel or the birdmouth.